Test-tube holder



Aug. 3, 1926. 1,594,792

\ A. C. MORTIMER TESI TUBE HOLDER Filed July 16', 1925 I gwwmtoz ID MOFW Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

A UNITED STATES ALFRED C. MORTIMER, WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR APPARATUS COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

OFF-ICE.

TO L. 1:. Know TEST-TUBE HOLDER.

Application filed July 16,1925. Serial No. 44,073.

This invention relates to improvements in holders and clamps, and more specifically to test tube holders as used by chemists, altho it is, of course, to be understood that the holder or clamp may be used for many other purposes Without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Holders or clamps now so extensively used, for example, by chemists and students in laboratories are of that type adapted to grip a test tube by reactive spring pressure, but are open to the objection that if the holder is grasped too' firmly, there is a tendency to relieve this gripping action, causingthe test tube to slip out of its holder.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a simple and practical holder or clamp so constructed as to increase the pressure or gripping action upon the article clamped such as a test tube,

rather than relieve such pressure, if the holder is held more tightly by the operator.

A further object is to provide a holder or clamp of the above character, which will securely holdand grip an article as a test tube, which will not tend to turn in the hand While being held, and which may be easily andconveniently manipulated to re: lease the tube when desired.

A further object is to provide a clamp or holder which may be either opened to re lease an object or closed to clamp an object, by straight pressure of the hand on the handle thereof applied at different places along its length.

A further object is to provide a device of the character above described preferably constructed from one'piece of wire in order that the same may be inexpensively manufactured.

A further object is to provide a holder of the above general character which will be durable and strong in construction, reliable in use and operation, and which may be easily and conveniently held 'and operated under all circumstances.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection With the accompanying sheet of drawings, illustrating one of the various embodiments of the present invention and in the several vlews ofwhich corresponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters.

r In these drawings,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device in normal position.

. Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device with a test tube held thereby.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device in the position shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates what may be termed as the handle portion, the entire device being preferably constructed of a single piece of wire. This handle portion consists oftwo substantially parallel parts provided near their centers with a coil 6 presenting a relatively fiat surface, thereby to lessen the tendency of the. handle to turn while being held. The rear ends of this handle portion are connected by a coil 7 which provides the necessary spring action for holding the'opposite ends or gripping jaws 8 in the normal position shown in Figure 1. These jaws 8 are preferably bent to form a rectangular outline, as shown in Figure 2, thereby to embrace va'relatively large portion of the objects desired to be held or clamped, of which a test tubemay be regarded as typical. It is obvious, however, that any type of clamping jaw may be. provided for adaptation upon the particular object for which the clamp is to be used.

It will be noted that'the jaws 8 are connected With the handle portions by double reverse bends 10 which cross each other at the points 11 and 12, and normally extend beyond the sides 5 of the handle, as shown in Figure 1. Thus it will be seen thatv in the normal position, the jaws 8 are relatively close together, but with the device held with the portions 5. grasped in the palm of the hand and the thumb applied to the bend 10 and pressure exerted, the jaws 8 will se aarate and assume the position shown in igure 3, whereby the test tube or other object may be held securely therebetvveen. ()n release of pressure by the thumbat the point 10, thecoil spring 7 causes the jaws 8 to exert a sufficiently strong gripping action on the tube to hold the same against slip ,ping. If the one using the device is nervous, due to reactions which may be occurring in the test tube, and inadvertently grips the handle portions 5 more firmly, this pressure, due to double return bends 10,'causes elongation of the handle portion "5,. and the hand of the person holding the clamp will naturally also extend about the bends 10. As hereinbefor'e described, pressure exerted on-itlie-port-ion 5 will act to closethejaws 8',

while pressure on the bends l0 will servei to separate or release the j awsr This construction of clamp thus enables-the: clamp jaws to be either opened or closed by-straight pressure of the hand applied at different places along the-length of the handle.

Aswthe construction, operation and use of the above device is clear from the above description, it is believed unnecessary to present a further statement of: operation.

' lVhile the invention is herein describedwith particularrelation to its use and application as a testtube holder, 'it is,-of course, to be understood-that without material modification,:- the invention may be applied to other uses, as desired.

Itwill thus be seen that the present in- Vention-contemplates a simple and practical apparatus which may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled, and which will be substantially fool-'prooii inuse and operation..

Without further analysis, the foregoing;

willso. fully: reveal the gist of the invention that' others can,- by applying current knowledge, readily adapt itfor'various ap' plications'without omitting certain featuresthat,- from the standpoint of the prior art,

fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics ofi the generic or specific aspects ofthis invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehendedwithin-- the mean ng and'range of equlvalency of the following, claims.

I claim:

1. In a-holder of thecharacter described, in combination, a handle portioncomprising awire bent back upon itself, gripping jaws and intervening connections including I a reversebend' at each} side of the h andle, where by,1 as the handle portion is more tightly I gripped, a correspondingpressure is exerted by-the-gripping aws 2; In a holder of the character-described,

in combination, a handleportion comprising a wire bent back upon itself," gripping jaws and intervenlngg-connectionsincluding a re verse bend at each side of the handle, whereby, as the handle portion is more tightly gripped, a corresponding pressure is exerted by the gripping jaws, said reverse bend extending beyond the sides of the handle whereby pressure may be exerted thereon to release the gripping pressure of the jaws.

3. In a holder of the character described, in combination, a, handle portion comprising a wirebentback upon itself, gripping jaws and intervening connections including a re verseibend at each side of the handle, whereby, as the handle portion is more tightly gripped; aconresponding pressure is exerted by the gripping jaws, and spring means associated with the handle portion for providing the normal gripping pressure;

4; In a-holder ot the character described-, in combination, a handle-portion comprising a :wire bent-back upon itself; gripping jaws and intervening connections includinglv a re= versebend at each side of the-handle, where by, as vthe'handle portion is more tightly gripped, a corresponding pressure is exertedby the gripping jaws, and spring means associated with the handle portion for-'pro-- viding the gripping pressure, said springmeans comprising-j a coilof wire connecting the handle portions atlone end thereof.

5. A holderof the character described, formed from a single piece of wire bent to provide ahandle portion and gripping jaws,- said handle portion'having at one end av coil, and terminatingatqits opposite-end with gripping jaws urged together by said" coil, said handleportions' and gripping aws being connected by reverse bends extending beyond thesides of th'e h'andle,'= whereby pressure may be exerted thereon to separate the jaws.-

6; A holder of the characterdescribed, formed from a singlepiece of-wire bentto provide a-ha-ndl eportion and gripping jaws, v said handle portion having at one end a coil,- and terminating at its opposite'endwith gripping: jaws urged together by said coil, said handle-portions and gripping-jaws be-- ing connected by reverse bendsextending beyond thesides of thehandle, wherebypressure may be exerted thereon to separate the jaws, said handleportion being pro- Vided at its sides withcoils thereby to pro-' vide a flat portion for engaging the palmof the hand tending==toeliminate a turning movement of the handle while being held;

7 A holderor clamp ofthecharacter described, comprising a-handl'e portion and a clampportion, the ends of the handle-por I tion being crossed and continued to form a;

8. A holder or clamp of the character described, comprising a handle portion having the ends thereof crossed and continued to form a loop serving as an extension to the handle, the ends of the loop being crossed and continued to form a clamp portion, the clamp portion being adapted to open as pressure is exerted on the loop portion, and to close when pressure is exerted on the handle portion.

Signed at Winthrop, Massachusetts, this 9th day of July, 1925.

ALFRED G. MORTIMER. 

